Sugarcane
Saccharum officinarum
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Genus:
- Saccharum
- Species:
- Saccharum officinarum
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Graminoid
- Height:
- 12-20 ft
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- jun, jul, aug, sep, oct, nov
Native Range
United States: Alabama, Florida, Guam, Louisiana, Mississippi, Puerto Rico, Palau, Texas, Virgin Islands
Host Plant for Caterpillars
African armyworm (Spodoptera exempta), Armyworm moth (Pseudaletia unipuncta), banana moth (Opogona aurisquamosa), banana moth (Opogona omoscopa), banana moth (Opogona sacchari), Black cutworm (Agrotis ipsilon), chalcedony midget (Elaphria chalcedonia), corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea), Diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella), Dislocated Cutworm (Agrotis dislocata), Dryadaula terpsichorella, Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), Festive Midget (Elaphria festivoides), Fig moth (Cadra figulilella), ⚠️Hawaiian grass leafroller (Omiodes localis), Honeydew moth (Cryptoblabes gnidiella), lesser cornstalk borer (Elasmopalpus lignosellus), Leucania latiuscula, Leucania multilinea, Meropleon cosmion, Mexican rice borer (Eoreuma loftini), Pseudaletia amblycasis, Pseudaletia macrosaris, rascal dart moth (Agrotis malefida), Small Mocis Moth (Mocis latipes), striped erechthias moth (Erechthias flavistriata), Striped rice borer (Chilo suppressalis), Sugarcane borer (Diatraea sp.), Sugarcane borer (Diatraea saccharalis), Sugarcane Leafroller (Omiodes accepta), Sugarcane Midget (Elaphria nucicolora), tea leafroller (Tetramoera schistaceana), True Lover's Knot (Lycophotia porphyrea), white-dotted wainscot (Leucania subpunctata), Woolly Cutworm (Agrotis crinigera), yellow mocis moth (Mocis disseverans), Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus)
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.0 - 8.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Thrives in tropical climates with high rainfall